Southern Africa Malaria
Day, 9 November:
New Bednets Programme Launched in
Mozambique
Related pages: Mozambique
country profile | Malaria
FAQ | MDG 6: HIV, AIDS, malaria
and other diseases
 Malaria is still the number one killer of children and pregnant women in
Sub-Saharan Africa. Every year, the countries in the Southern Africa Development
Community (SADC) organise a regional Malaria Day on 9 November. The month of
November coincides with the start of the rainy season in the region, which
brings more mosquitoes and therefore a higher risk of being infected with
malaria. This year, the theme of the SADC Malaria Day is treated nets and the
spraying of houses to prevent malaria:
- Have your house sprayed; and
- Sleep under a treated net.
In the week of November, coinciding with SADC Malaria Week, a new programme
will be launched in Mozambique supported by DFID. The Malaria Consortium
Partnership will promote a sustainable market for insecticide-treated mosquito
nets in Mozambique. Distribution of low-cost nets will start through the health
sector to pregnant women in Inhambane province, as well as support to Mozambican
commercial companies to set up a distribution and retail system for nets in
Nampula province.
This is a different approach from previous social marketing programmes of
nets. The programme is supporting the real private sector instead of replacing
it. Support goes directly to commercial companies to allow them to set up
sustainable systems for distribution and retail of nets. This way the population
can buy nets quality and reasonable price in a shop or market stall near their
home.
Pregnant women in Mozambique can now buy cheap mosquito nets from their local
health centre. The programme is supporting the district health authorities in
getting nets to health centres and ensuring that health staff sell nets during
ante-natal clinics. Nets sold are Long-Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLINs),
giving longer and better protection.
Image courtesy of UNICEF
Partner agencies of the Malaria Consortium, which include a large variety of
civil society organisations, will work with local communities to raise awareness
about the effectiveness of nets in protecting against malaria and to increase
demand for nets. In addition, Mozambican creativity and expertise will be used
to develop messages and promotional campaigns and materials. Media campaigns
will pass the message to families that nets are now available at health centres
and in shops. Increasing demand for nets will sustain the commercial market for
nets in Mozambique.
Achievements of the first 5
months of the programme include:
- signing of partnership agreements with a variety of Mozambican partners agencies
- development of a new approach to public sector distribution of nets together with the Ministry of
Health and the
Inhambane provincial authorities
- launch of public sector distribution in
Inhambane province
- conversion of 50,000 nets donated by UNICEF into
Long-Lasting Nets for use in Inhambane
- training of 400 health workers, provincial and district health staff in the new public sector distribution
system
- start of social mobilisation campaign in Inhambane province
- development of a new approach to support to the Mozambican private sector
together with commercial partners
- launch of private sector support in Nampula province.
Anticipated results by the end of 2007
- Delivered 220,000 low-cost nets with long-lasting insecticide (LLINs) to pregnant women
- Converted 65% of conventional nets into long-lasting nets through re-treatment campaigns
- Supported commercial partners in the setting up of their distribution and sales
networks and in the sale of 200,000 to 300,000 nets
- Reached 600,000 people with Insecticide Treated Net (ITN) messages through mass media, local organizations and community
leaders.
- Strengthened the network of partners in the field of malaria
Key Facts
- Insecticide-treated mosquito nets are an effective way to reduce the chances
of getting malaria.
- In Africa, at least 24 million pregnancies are threatened by malaria each year
- Malaria causes an immense burden on health systems, being responsible for about 30 per cent of all outpatient visits and 20 to 50 per cent of all hospital admissions in countries with malaria in Africa.
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